MLB Playoff Race: The trade deadline is finally here

After over three months of baseball, the non-waiver trade deadline has arrived; with the deadline being at 4 PM Eastern (1 PM Pacific). There’s already been a lot of movement on the trade market, but some of the biggest names have yet to be traded.

Ranger’s starter Yu Darvish has appeared on the market as they have fallen out of the Wildcard race during July. The Yankees and Dodgers are the two teams that have been rumored to be interested in the 30-year old from Japan; even the Cubs have expressed interest. But it would be surprising to see Texas get anything for Darvish because he’s a two month rental — if the team that acquires him doesn’t make the playoffs — and it’s likely he’ll resign with the rangers once free agency starts up again.

Another starter that is likely to be moved by today’s deadline is the talented, young, and club controlled Sonny Gray. With Oakland in last place in the American League West, trading the 27-year old will give general manager Billy Beane a bundle of prospects that could jump-start the rebuild process. It’ll be interesting to see the cluster of prospects that Beane is able to acquire in the pending trade for Gray.

While Gray and Darvish are likely to find new homes by 4 PM Eastern, it seems that the Tigers high prospect asking price — and they don’t want to take on any of his contract — has scared off an potential trade partners for Justin Verlander. Which means that the 34-year old is probably going to stay in Detroit.*

While these are the names that have been trending in trade rumors, these aren’t the only players that are going to move today. It’ll be interesting to see what moves the teams in the middle of the playoff race make.

*These players were not officially traded by 8:00 AM Pacific on July 31st, there situations could change throughout the day.